Predictions for UFC 93: Who wins the one-time dream match?

The main event at UFC 93 between Rich Franklin and Dan Henderson was once a dream match-up for mixed-martial-arts fans.Franklin reigned as king of the middleweight division in Ultimate Fighting Championship. Henderson was on top of the weight-equivalent middleweight division in Japan’s Pride FC. But that was then. This is now.Heading into Saturday’s card in Dublin, Ireland, both guys are trying to work their way back into the title picture — Franklin has been beltless since losing to Anderson Silva at UFC 64 in October 2006. Henderson, meanwhile, has been without gold since losing his welterweight title to Anderson Silva last March at UFC 82, and dropping the Pride light heavyweight crown to Quinton Jackson in September 2007 at UFC 75.Who will move a step closer to another possible title run? Here are my predictions for UFC 93 . . .

Light heavyweight bout: Rich Frankin (+105) versus Dan Henderson (-125)Though this match-up would have been a blockbuster three years ago rather than serving as the main event on a card that will struggle to do a big pay-per-view number (thanks largely to the time difference in the UK), it’s nonetheless intriguing. The two are so evenly matched, if they fought 100 times, it could easily be split 50-50.On their feet, the advantage goes to Franklin (24-3). On the mat, the tide likely shifts to Henderson (23-7). So what’s going to be the difference? Intangibles.Whenever’s it’s time to make a prediction on a Franklin fight, one indisputable fact keeps jumping out: the only person he’s lost to in the past five years is The Terminator-esque Anderson Silva. Somehow, Franklin always finds a way to get it done.Prediction: Henderson via split decision

Light heavyweight bout: Mark Coleman (-285) versus Mauricio Rua (-365)If Coleman (15-8) could hop into Doc Brown’s Delorean and go back in time 10 years, this would be a heck of a fight. Unfortunately for Coleman, the chances of that happening are about as good as his hopes of beating Rua.Coleman, even at age 44, remains a powerhouse wrestler, which gives him at least some glimmer of hope. But the overall skill-set of Rua (16-3) is too strong to allow himself to be dominated on the mat for any extended periods of time. Whether it’s via submission, knockout or TKO, this one should be over in a hurry.Prediction: Rua via first-round submission

Middleweight bout: Jeremy Horn (+350) versus Rousimar Palhares (-550)While Horn’s (88-18-5) greatest strength for a long time was his submission defence, he’s tapped out in three of his last four fights. That doesn’t bode well considering Palhares (17-1) is one of UFC’s best submission fighters.Prediction: Palhares via third-round submission

Middleweight bout: Alan Belcher (+220) versus Denis Kang (-280)Though it’s his UFC debut and he may not be known by the casual fan, Kang (31-10-1) has a solid reputation around the world thanks largely to his days fighting for different promotions in Japan. Belcher (12-4) will learn first-hand what the talk is about.Prediction: Kang via second-round TKO

Welterweight bout: Marcus Davis (-165) versus Chris Lytle (+135)The crowd in Dublin is going to go crazy for Davis (20-5) and Lytle (36-16-4). Both like to throw down, and both expect this to be the fight of the night.Davis has said he wants this to be the second coming of the Forrest Griffin-Stefan Bonnar match that put MMA on the radar of many modern-day fans. While the drama of Griffin-Bonnar will be impossible to duplicate, at the very least Davis-Lytle could be a more technically-sound slugfest (seeing as how both are former boxers). These guys will be spending three rounds trying to land a knockout punch.Prediction: Davis via unanimous decision

Dave Deibert thinks the first team to 11 points wins the Pittsburgh-Baltimore AFC final, and will be stunned if Philadelphia doesn’t beat Arizona in the NFC final. With comments or critiques, reach him at ddeibert@sp.canwest.com

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